NATIVE WILD FLOWERS 
The number five prevails in this plant; the calyx is five- 
parted; petals five; stamens ten, or twice five; stigma 
one, but five-rayed, with five knobs or tubercles at the 
apex; seed-vessel five-celled and five-valved. The flowers 
are generally from five to ten on the scape. 
Most of our Pyrolas are remarkable for the rich fragrance 
of their flowers, especially P. elliptica, and P. rotundifolia, 
together with its variety incarnata. 
ONE-SIDED Pyrota—P. secunda (L.). 
This little evergreen plant is singular rather than pretty. 
The flowers, which are greenish white, form a one-sided 
slender raceme, being all turned to one side of the flower- 
stem; the style is long and straight, exceeding the stamens 
and anthers—the latter are very dark, almost dusky black; 
the stigma, thick and ribbed, forms a turban-shaped green 
knob in the centre of the flower; stigmas persistent on the 
capsule. The foliage is dark green, smooth, serrated at the 
margin of each oval leaf. The leaves are clustered at the 
base of the flower-stem on foot-stalks, leafing the stem 
upwards a little. The plant is found in dry woods and on 
banks, under the shade of trees. The flower is scentless. 
ROUND-LEAVED LESSER PyroLa—Pyrola rotundifolia (L.), 
var. incarnata (Gray). 
is a far more attractive flower, with a few sweet fragrant 
pink blossoms and small round or kidney-shaped dark green 
leaves. Like the sweet violet of Old Country hedgerows, it 
betrays its presence by its fine perfume, though often deep 
hidden among the mosses and weeds which are found in the 
peat-bogs where it grows. We have yet another Pyrola, 
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